AN: Sometimes I will describe very detailed what the main character looks like in ( . . . )
I am inspired by musicals, classical opera and other romantic stories I've read and seen. It probably won't be left unnoticed that I am a big Phantom-of-the-opera-lover ;-)

Back to Tavington, Cornwallis and our secret identity thief!

The clock in the main hall stroke twelve times. It was midnight and still no sign of the thief. Tavington started to get impatient, he sat in a chair in the corner of Cornwallis' office. What kind of a fool would even try to break into a military estate for the second time in a row! He would probably sit here all night long and no thief would appear. Then at 6 'o clock in the morning he would start training with the Dragoons. He was used to getting no sleep, being a colonel in the English military wasn't very glamorous. Some weeks he was out every night, raiding with his Dragoons.
His rank had made him quite a wealthy man but his reputation made him a lonely man. All kinds of stories about him were being spilled into society. Half of the stories weren't even true but he didnt't care to contradict them. He hated balls and he didn't care for social gatherings so his reputation was quite useful to him, people would stay away and he wouldn't have to listen to their empty-headed gossiping.

Suddenly he saw a small shadow move from the window to the door. How could he have missed that! How did the thief come in unnoticed!

The thief didn't seem to notice him though, he went through the door into the hallway and into the dining room. Tavington followed him into the dining room. There he closed the door and lit some candles, there was no way out now. He didn't see the shadowy figure anymore though, he walked through the dining room... Slowly... His boots clucking on the floor with every step he took. The thief could hear the spurrs of his boots on the ground. Tavington took out his pistol but he didn't cock it. He remembered Cornwallis' words: alive and unharmed. His victim was obviously under the dining table hiding behind the dining cloth. He could just smell the fear. How pathetic.
He strolled towards the door and opened it, then closed it and pretended to have left the room. Within a few seconds he saw a gloved hand coming from under the table. How foolish to think that he'd already left.
Tavington yanked it's wrist hard and his prey was then finally revealed...

''Get up, you stupid little boy!'' he barked.

He yanked his upper arm and shoved the thief against the wall. He was pinned against the wall by Tavington's body. He clould see that the thief was only about 5''6 and much lighter than the colonel. It was just a boy! He thought to himself.

''Let me go! I didn't do anything wrong this is just the wrong house I swear, I live next door I swear!''

''You expect me to believe that? What kind of a fool do you take me for? There is no 'next door', this is a military estate! Insult me thus again and I will shoot you on the spot you little twat. Now let's see who has caused me all this trouble shall we?''.

He pulled off the mask and hat which the thief wore to try and hide his identity. For a couple of moments Tavington didn't know what to say. His eyes must have been playing tricks on him! The thief who he had thought to be a foolish boy, was a young woman.
She had long wavey red hair which reached the end of her back and green eyes which were raging with anger. To be honoust: she was quite beautiful.

Whilst he stared at her in amazement she took this oppertunity and kicked him hard in the groin. He gasped in pain. She made a sprint for the door but Tavington had already tackled her to the ground , climbed on top of her and pinned her to the floor underneath his body.

''Get off me I can't breath you bastard!''

''You don't deserve to breathe you little wench'' he said as he slowly closed his fingers around her throat. My god, he was going to choke her, this was the end, this was where she would die. She tried to get him off but he was too heavy for her.

Then he slightly released his grip on her throat and brought his mouth close to her ear, she could feel his warm breath down her neck, and he whispered:

''I will release you madam, if you promiss to be quiet and take a seat on that chair. If you try to run away or start screaming I will simply put a bulllet through your pretty little head without any hessitation. Do we understand eachother?''.

''Yes''.

''Excuse me?'' He raised his eyebrow.

''Yes... sir'' she mubled under her breath. She took a seat on the chair which he had pointed out for her.

''Now, you will tell me what you came here for and you will tell me who you are. And most important of all: where do your loyalties lie madam?''

''My loyalties? I do not understand which loyalties you speak off sir. You see, I am from France so obvioulsy that is where my loyalties lie. As for your other questions, I shall not tell you who I am neither will I reveal my identity to you because you are not the person I came here for nor do you possess the item which I will claim from this estate later on'' she replied in a slight French accent.

Tavington knew he was going to lose his temper very soon, he could feel the anger burn inside him and her slightly annoying French accent didn't make it any better. He stood up and leaned over her, his grip on the armchairs was so tight that his hands turned white. He was trying to intimidate her but she just glared at him, straight into his icey cold eyes. They stayed like this for a couple of minutes but it seemed like hours to him and to her also. He stared into her angry eyes with his angry eyes. Why wasn't she scared! She obviously didn't know who he was and what he was capable off. Their heads were so close that their noses almost touched eachother and if it wasn't for their anger and spite, which was obvious from their body language and awkward silent, anyone could have mistaken this for a shameless flirtation.

He had to admit, she was quite beautiful, long red hair, firey green eyes, pale skin and slender body with perfect curves in the right places which were way to obvious in the man's attire that she was wearing. He had to break this up because he would not only lose his temper but also his self control by staring into these eyes any longer. He shook the feelings off him. He didn't care for women!

''So be it then miss, I will take you to our military prison, chain you to the wall and I will come and pick you up in the morning for a private meeting with my superior''.

''Fine, then do your duty soldier, because we are wasting precious time here. And also: I'm bored''.

He pulled her from the chair and led her down the stairs into the small cellars of the estate which were sometimes used as prisons. The walk seemed to last hours and the awkwardness didn't go unnoticed on either of them.

''Would you be so kind to remove one of your boots so I can chain your ankle to the wall?''
He realised how unappropriate it was to ask a woman such a thing but her wrists were way too small to be chained to the wall, she could stick her hand through the chain without opening them up. And Cornwallis would have his head if she would somehow escape. When he touched her ankle it felt like his hand was on fire.

''There's a cot and a blanket. I suggest you get some sleep because early in the morning I will come and get you'' he said as he chained her ankle to the wall. The chain was a couple of feet long so she was still able to reach the cot and lie down on it.

''Can't wait for another 'rendez vous' '' she said sarcasticly as she sweetly blinked her eyes at the colonel.

''You are a little brat and tomorrow you will probably be hanged for treason and stealing. Have a nice night young lady'' he smirked and left the cellar locking the door behind him. Of course she wouldn't be hanged but he wanted to scare the little bitch with her sarcasm and impertenence. There was a reason Cornwallis wanted her alive and unharmed, she was probably of some great value to him.

The next morning

The next morning when he came for her, she was still asleep on the cot. He stared at how peaceful she laid there. Not much left of the fiery creature he met last night. He didn't feel much for another kick in the groin so he unchained her ankle without waking her and then gave her a light kick to the knee.

''Aow! Merde!...what the..., you really know how to wake a lady, you must have a lot of experience on that territory I assume'' she glared at him.

Tavington ignored the impertenent comment. ''Get up, I'm bringing you to the Lord General. Put on your mask and cloack and hide your hair under your hat. I have been given strict orders that no one is to know you are here so we shall hide your identity once more until we reach his office''.

''You are very good at following orders sir, chapeau''.

She followed his command and they walked through the halls of the estate towards Cornwallis' office. When they entered, Cornwallis was sitting behind his desk and O'Hara was standing next to him. Tavington closed the door behind him, locked it and placed her in the middle of the room.

''Good morning, I am Lord General Cornwallis and this is General O'Hara. I assume you are the thief who has broken into my estate twice now. Take off your mask and hat and reveal yourself'' Cornwallis commanded her.

She did as he told her to. Her hair fell down her back as she took of her hat and then she removed the mask and said:

''Hello father''.